Automatic car-coupler.



No. 807,430. PATBNTED DBO. 10, 1005.

A. J. BBARD.

AUTOMATIC CAR GOUPLING.

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30 //mfewbgmgeafd BY M QMMMX ATTORNEY.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW J. BEARD, OF MOUNT PINSON, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR TO BEARD AUTOMATIC COUPLER OO., A CORPORATION OF ALABAMA.

AUTOMATIC CAR-COUPLER..

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1905.

Application filed May 16, 1904. Serial No. 208,133.

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW J. BEARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mount Pinson, in the county of Jefferson and State of Alabama, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Oar-Couplers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in couplers of the Janney type wherein a swinging knuckle is pivotally mounted in a recessed draw-head and provided with a tail-wing which enters the recess and is engaged and held therein by any suitable locking device.

My presentinvention embodies the improvements in coupler construction and locking mechanism set forth and more fully described in a pending application, it being my object to simplify and strengthen my former coupler and adapt it to open the knuckle fully, so that there will be no danger of the knuckles jamming instead of interlocking when the heads engage for the purpose of coupling.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a locking device which is formed integrally and inserted bodily into the head and which is so constructed and proportioned that when moved to its open position to permit the knuckles to uncouple it will stand in this position without danger of falling back and relocking the knuckle before it is desired to uncouple the heads.

My invention further comprises the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a top plan View of my coupler. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the line of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a horizontal longitudinal section showing the tail-wing in its locked position. Fig. i is a similar View showing the position of parts when the knuckle and lock are open. Fig. 5 is a transverse section through the line g/ y, Fig'. 3; and Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the lock set in its open position.

Similar reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout.

My invention comprises a draw-head 1, having jaws 2 and 3, in the former of which lis pivotally mounted a knuckle 4, having a tailwing 5, which swings into a recess in the drawhead. The pin 6 forms a pivot for the knuckle, the head being strengthened where'it enters jaw 2 by a web 7, which continues rearwardly to the forward wall of the curved chamber 8, the rear wall of which constitutes the buffershoulder for the head. I preferably secure the head by pin 9 to the draw-bar 10, so as to permit it a limited lateral swing to reduce friction on the knuckles and enable them to successfully couple on curves. This pivotal connection is strengthened by providing the adjoining ends of the head and draw-bar with overlapping circular lugs 11 and 12, provided with central openings 13, through which the pin 9 passes.

The chamber 8, which leads vertically upward from the rear portion of the recess in the draw-head, has one of its side walls constructed to form a locking-shoulder 15, while its top portion is curved for the purposes hereinafter described. Within this chamber is a freely-movable locking device 16, formed of an inverted-U-shaped integral piece of metal, having a curved body portion 17 and a square locking head or block 18. The upper portion of body 17 is channeled or longitudinally recessed at 19 to form two lugs or ears 20, between which an end of the operating-rod 21, formed with an eye, is inserted and pivotally connected thereto by a transverse pin 22, which for convenience may be inserted after the locking device has been slipped into the recess in the draw bar by passing it through an opening 23 in the side wall of the chamber. The side walls of the chamber prevent the disengagement of this pin, the locking devicev being nearly as wide as the chamber. Opening 23 may be plugged or closed in any desirable manner. An opening 24 is provided at one end of chamber 8 for the operating-rod 21. An eye 25 in the outer end of the rod is for a connection to an operatingrod or chain leading to any convenient point on the car. I round off or bevel the lower front edge of the head 18 at 26.

The tail-wing 5, which curves forward from the knuckle to increase the latters draft strength, is provided with an angled end portion 27, curved over the top and having front and back parallel sides or faces. From the outer end a wedge-shaped ange 28 forms a rearward continuation of the curved top of the tail-wing and leads at an incline to a point in the same plane with the bottom of the portion 27. The inward swing of end 27 of the IOO lwith an antifriction-roller.

tail-wing is stopped by its engaging within a similarly-wedge-shaped recess 29 in the rear wall of the chamber 8. The tail-wing swings about an inch above the bottom of the recess in the head, passing over a shoulder 30 at the front side of the recess adjacent to jaw 3 and over the knuckle-opening lever hereinafter described. I provide the tail-wing with a curved shoulder 31, struck on an arc from pin 6, and I providea similarly-curved groove 32 in the head,into which said shoulder moves and fits closely, but without binding, when the knuckle swings inwardly into its coupled position. This shoulder will greatly increase the strength of the coupler and will remove a great part of the push-and-pull strain from the end of the tail-wing, so that lthere is but little danger of the latters snapping or breaking, as is now often the case. The rear side of the recess in the draw-head behind shoulder 30 is cut away to form a semicircular seat for the curved end 33 of the knuckle-opening lever 34. A stud 35, formed integral with end 33, enters a suitable hole in the curved seat and serves as a pivot for the lever. The body portion of the lever tapers slightly to its end portion 36, which is disposed substantially parallel with the rear wall of the recess, and is provided with a pin 37, which normally engages the rear side of the tail-wing. To reduce friction, this pin may be provided In its closed position this lever extends diagonally across the bottom of the recess, its edge 38 abutting against the rear wall of the recess andv serving as a stop and its slanting wedge-face 39 being disposed in the path of movement of the vend of body portion 17 As the lever swings open its edge 40 abuts against the shoulder 30 and limits its throw.

Referring to Fig. 5, it will be noted that the enlarged squared end 41 of the body portion 17 is disposed between lever 34 and the rear wall of the recess and has its forward outer edge beveled, so that as it is caused by the operating-rod 21 to move across the recess it will engage the wedge-face 39 of the lever and throw it outwardly. Conversely, as the lever is forced inwardly by the tail-wing in the act of coupling it will start the locking movement of the body portion 17 before its end is engaged by the incoming tail-wing.

In Fig. 6, the locking device being shown set in its open position, it will be noted that the curved outer edge of the body portion 17 as it approaches end 41 straightens out to form a fiat seat for the locking device, and when resting on this edge the heavy head 18 tends to hold the lock in this position by reason of its center of gravity being to the left of the end 41. The lock will therefore remain open when once moved to that position by its operating-rod 21, so that the cars can be set for uncoupling and subsequently shifted. The end 41 is squared off, so that in its open position this end stands practically parallel with the back face of the end portion 27 of the tailwing, by which it is engaged and shifted.

Having thus described the construction and arrangement of the several parts comprised in my coupler, I will now describe the manner of their operation. Assuming the locking device disposed within chamber 8 in the position shown in Fig. 6 and the knuckle open, as the latter is engaged by an incoming head in the act of coupling its tail-wing 5 will swing into the recessand the rear face of end 27 will strike the squared end portion 41 of the curved tailpiece 17. This will force the rounded side of the curved piece against the curved wall of the chamber 8, with the result that the locking device will move bodily in an arcuate or curved direction, straddling the end of the tail-wing and interposing the locking-block 18 between the outer side of the end 27 and the shoulder 15 of the head. As the tail-wing moves inwardly its rear portion by engaging pin 37 will move the knuckleopening lever 34 inwardly. This movement, as will be seen by reference to Fig. 4, by means of the engagement of the edge 39 with the beveled edge of end 41 of the locking device causes the latter to start its locking movement prior to its being engaged by the tailwing. This has the effect of reducing the force of the blow, which is often violent and might injure the locking device. The several parts will now occupythe position shown in Fig. 5. In uncoupling the rod 21 will be drawn outwardly, which raises the curved piece, moving it bodily until the block is above the end 27,when the curved piece 17 as the lever continues to move outwardly will be forced against the side wall of chamber 8, which serves as a fulcrurn to cause its end portion 41 to traverse the chamber. It being noted in Fig. 4 that this portion 17 rests upon the bottom of thelocking-chamber between lever 34 and the rear wall as its end 41 moves in traversing the chamber its beveled side portion will engage the beveled face 39 of the lever and force the latter outwardly in a positive manner to throw the tail-wing widely open. This insures the knuckles being opened to prevent them jamming and is of particular advantage in effecting couplings on curves. If the curved locking-piece shall have fallen or been moved to its closed position after the knuckle has been opened, as the tail-wing swings inwardly in coupling the wedge 28 will slip under the lower cut-away corner of the block, Fig. 5, and since the curved piece is freely movable within the chamber 8 without fixed pivot or any rigid connection it will IOO readily be lifted upwardly and will ride over T25 the curved top of the end 27 andv drop behind the same to lock the knuckle. The engagement of end 27 within recess 29 prevents the possibility of breakingv the tailpiece 17 of the locking device by jamming it against the side I3@ ofthe head. The use of strengthening-shoulder 31 relieves the draft strain to a great extent upon the tail-wing and materially strengthens the coupler.

The advantages of my coupler reside principally in the fact that I do not depend upon any gravity or uncertain action of my locking device, but move it in a positive manner both to lock and unlock the tail-wing. Having no fixed pivot for my locking device, I avoid the danger of having it broken by hard blows from the tail-wing, since the device will jump freely away from the blow from the tail-wing whether it be in its open or closed position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Acoupler comprising a recessed drawhead, a pivoted knuckle having a tail-wing, a locking device having a guide portion with a curved bearing-surface which is disposed in said recess, a lever pivoted to said head and adapted to engage said tail-wing and disposed in the path of the locking devices opening movement to release the tail-wing, said lever being adapted to be actuated by said locking device to cause the knuckle to open fully.

2. The combination with a recessed drawhead, of a knuckle pivotally connected thereto and provided with a tail-wing which swings into said recess, a pivoted element disposed in said recess and adapted to engage said tailwin-g, and a locking device disposed in said recess and adapted to straddle said tail-wing when in its closed position, and to actuate said element to throw said tail-wing outwardly as it continues its unlocking movement after releasing said tail-wing.

3. The combination with a recessed drawhead, of a knuckle pivoted thereto and providedwith a tail-wing, a knuckle-opening lever mounted in said recess and engaging said tail-wing, a locking device adapted to straddle said tail-wing when in its locked position and to engage said lever after releasing the tail-wing to move said latter to its open position, and means to operate said locking device.

4. A coupler comprising a recessed drawhead, a pivoted knuckle having a tail-wing, a locking device having a guide portion with a curved bearing-surface which causes the device to be shifted bodily when moved int'o engagement with a wall of said recess, said deyvice being moved by said tail-wing to a locking position, means to move said device to an open position, and a knuckle-opening lever actuated by said device in its opening movement to throw the tail-wing outwardly.

5. In a coupler having a recessed draw-head andv a swinging knuckle, an `inverted U- shaped locking device which is engaged by said knuckle and shifted bodily to lock said knuckle, means to move said device to release said knuckle, a curved groove in said head and a similarly curved shoulder on said knuckle which enters said groove when the knuckle is closed.

6. A coupler comprising a recessed drawhead, a pivoted knuckle having a tail-wing which swings into said recess, a curved locking device movable without tXed pivot in said recess and engaging said tail-wing to be moved thereby to a position astride the latter to block its outward movement, a knuckle-opening lever, and means to move said locking device from a position astride said tail-wing and cause it to engage said lever to open said knuckle.

7 A coupler comprising a recessed drawhead, a pivoted knuckle having a tail-wing, a

locking device movable without fixed pivot within said draw-head and comprising a head and a guide-body portion which is engaged by said tail-wing and shifted to force said head into the path of the opening movement of said tail-wing to lock it, said guide-body portion being adapted by its configuration to maintain said locking device set in its open position until engaged by said tail-wing during its closing movements.

8. In a coupler, the combination with arecessed draw-head, a pivoted knuckle having a tail-wing which swings into said recess, and a locking device disposed within said recess and in the path of the tail-wings movement whereby the latter moves it to its locking position,

of a knuckle-opening lever pivoted in said recess and engaging said tail-wing, and means whereby said locking device, as it is moved to its open position, engages said lever and by a wedging action throws it outwardly to open said knuckle.-

In testimony whereofI have signed my name to this specication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ANDREW J. BEARD.

Witnesses:

R. D. JOHNSTON, H. M. HARToN.

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